Angels

Weaver, Downs Shut Out Orioles 3-0

Jered Weaver #36 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 7, 2012 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Jered Weaver scattered three hits over eight innings in his final start before heading to his third straight All-Star game, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 on Saturday night.

Weaver (10-1) won his fourth straight outing since coming off the disabled list, striking out five and walking one while lowering his ERA to 1.96.

Weaver joined Sandy Koufax (1963-64) as the only pitchers since 1950 with consecutive seasons of double-digit wins and an ERA under 2.00 before the All-Star break. During his seven-year career, the Angels’ ace is 59-26 with a 2.84 ERA in 110 starts before the All-Star break. Last season he was 11-4 with a 1.86 ERA in 19 starts before the break.

Scott Downs pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in eight attempts.

Jason Hammel (8-5) gave up three runs, six hits and four walks over 6 2-3 innings and struck out four. He also hooked up against Weaver on June 26 at Baltimore, and was charged with eight runs in 3 1-3 innings that night in a 13-1 loss after bringing a 19-inning scoreless streak into the game.

Mark Trumbo led off the Angels’ fourth with a single and legged it to second after left fielder Xavier Avery misplayed the ball for the Orioles’ major league-worst 75th error. Trumbo got to third after tagging up on Alberto Callaspo‘s flyout to the warning track in center, and Kendrick singled sharply to the right of second base with the infield playing in.

Angels Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter helped choke off an Orioles threat in the seventh when he played the carom perfectly off the 18-foot wall on a single by slugger Jim Thome and threw out the 41-year-old designated hitter at second base with the Angels still leading 1-0.

The Halos tacked on two more runs in the bottom half with a two-out RBI double by Hunter and an RBI single by Kendrys Morales. But it was the speed of rookie Mike Trout that kept the inning alive for Hunter, as the 20-year-old rookie beat the relay to first base on a potential inning-ending double-play grounder to second basemanRobert Andino.

NOTES: Orioles 1B Joe Mahoney was 0 for 3 in his major league debut, two days after his contract was purchased from Norfolk. He was a sixth-round draft pick in 2007 out of the University of Richmond. … Weaver has not issued an intentional walk since Sept. 4, 2009 at Kansas City, when he put Mark Teahen on base with a runner at third and struck out John Buck to end the inning. Since then, Weaver has made 87 starts, pitched 590 2-3 innings and faced 2,340 batters without an intentional pass. … Baltimore recalled OF/INF Steve Tollesonfrom Triple-A Norfolk to fill the roster spot left vacated when RHP Jake Arrieta was optioned to the Orioles’ top farm club on Saturday. Arrieta gave up six runs over 3 2-3 innings in Thursday’s series opener without getting a decision in the team’s 9-7 loss, and is 1-7 with a 7.71 ERA in 12 starts since his previous win on May 2. … Weaver will be the fourth pitcher in Angels history to represent them in three consecutive All-Star games. The others were LHP Mark Langston (1991-93), LHP Frank Tanana (1976-78) and RHP Ken McBride (1961-1963). … Orioles RF Chris Davis returned to the lineup after missing two games with a strained trapezius muscle.